Imperial Scale Puzzle Objective:

Remove the ring.

Materials: 1 – 4” x 4” x 1/4” plywood 3/8” drill bit 1 meter of 1/16” braided string 4 – 1/2” beads One ring 1” to 1 ½” diameter

How to Make:

Draw the square’s diagonals on the wood. On each diagonal mark points ¾” from corner and ½” from center point. Drill a hole through all eight points.

1. Attach a 1-foot length of cord to the base by threading

the ends through two adjacent corner holes, and knotting each under a bead beneath the base.

2. Repeat Step One on the 2 remaining holes on the opposite side of the base.

3. Tie the two loops of these cords at the top. 4. Tie one end of the remaining piece of cord to this knot, and thread the other end as in the

diagram: down through the adjacent hole and the ring, around the descending strand and through the ring and the hole diagonally opposite to the first, up through the remaining hole, and its own loop.

5. Tie to the top knot.

Imperial Scale Puzzle Solution:

1. Thread the central loop C down through Corner hole A. 2. Pass the loop over the bead and pull it back to the top

side. 3. Pass the loop through Corner hole B, pass it over the

bead and pull it back to the top. 4. Pass the loop over the knot from which the base hangs

and bring it down around threads D and E. 5. Repeat step 3 for the remaining two holes.

Loop C

Corner B

Corner A

Corner D Corner E

Block and Tackle Puzzle Objective:

Transfer a ball from one side to the other. Materials:

1 – 1” x 1” x 4” block 3/8” drill bit 1 ½ meters of 1/8” braided string 2 – 1” beads or rings

How to Make:

On one long side of the block mark a point ½ inch from the long side and ¾ inch from one end. Center the 3/8 inch bit on this point and drill a hole through the block. Rotate the block 90°. Drill a second hole on the opposite end, ¾ inch from the bottom and ½ inch from the long side. Note: the holes are drilled at right angles to each other. Sand and finish the block, either paint or clear coat. Thread the block. First take one end of the cord and thread it through the top hole from back to front. Next, pass it through the right-hand bead. Pass the thread through the lower hole from right to left. Now pass it through the left-hand bead. Thread it through the top hole, from front to back, and counter clockwise round the top of the block. Sew the ends together.

Block and Tackle Puzzle Solution:

Before using this solution, be sure to place the puzzle before you with the cords arranged as in the picture. 1. Pull the top loop out toward you, and then

pass it back over the top of the block. 2. Run the left-hand bead up the cord until it

passes through the top loop. 3. Now, pull the two cords which run through the

top hole, bringing them toward you. Pull them until the loops which carry the two wooden beads emerge through the top hole enough for the left-hand bead to pass through the loops.

4. Move the left-hand bead along the cord and through the loops.

5. Pull the loops back through the hole, pulling on the cords at the back of the block.

6. Slide the left-hand bead up the cord and through the loop at the back, until both balls are at the same side.

African Ball Puzzle Objective:

Transfer a ball from one hanging loop to the other. Materials

1 – 1.5” x 10” x 1/8” board ½” drill bit 60 cm of 1/8” braided string 2 – 1” beads or rings

How to Make:

Drill a hole one inch from each end centered from top to bottom. Find the exact center of the board and drill a hole at that point. Sand the board, and paint or clear coat it. Thread the beads on the cord as shown. Secure the ends by stitching. Alternate Construction: Use an 1/8 inch bit to drill the holes at the ends. Put the string through the holes and knot the free ends behind the small holes in the board.

African Ball Puzzle Solution

1. Begin with the central loop lying in front of the bar as in the picture. Pull the loop toward you.

2. Slide the left bead up the cord, and pass it through the central loop.

3. Keeping the bead in place, pull the left and right sections of the cord toward you through the hole in the bar by pulling the central loop.

4. Slide the bead along to the right and through the two central loops that are now at the center.

5. Pull the central loops back through the hole. 6. Let the bead slide onto the right-hand section of the cord.

Make corresponding movements, but working from right to left, to transfer the ring back to the left cord.

African Ball Puzzle 1 Objective:

Transfer the balls from one hanging loop to the other. Materials

1 – 1.5” x 10” x 1/8” board ½” drill bit 80 cm of 1/8” braided string 7 – 1” to 1 ½” beads

How to Make:

Drill a hole one inch from each end centered from top to bottom. Find the exact center of the board and drill a hole at that point. Sand the board, and paint or clear coat it. Thread the beads on the cord as shown. Note the central bead must have a hole large enough for 4 strands of the string to pass through. Secure the ends by stitching. Alternate Construction: Use an 1/8 inch bit to drill the holes at the ends. Put the string through the holes and knot the free ends behind the small holes in the board.

African Ball Puzzle 1 Solution

1. Loose the central loop. Slide

the central bead and the first right-hand bead up through it.

2. Pull the two adjoining sections of the cord so that the central loop is forced through the hole in the bar, toward you.

3. Draw the newly appeared double-stranded loop through the central bead.

4. Pass the first bead through the double-stranded loop as it comes through the central ball. Pull the double loop back through the holes in the bead and the bar.

5. Loosen the loop that is now at the center, and pass the first bead through it and onto the left-hand cord.

6. Pull the central loop over the central bead and let the bead drop into place. 7. Repeat this series of movements, each time transferring one bead.

Victoria Puzzle Objective:

Separate the pieces. Materials

1 – 2” x 2” x 1/4” board 2 – 2” x 4” x 1/4” board 1 meter of 1/8” braided string ½: drill bit

How to Make:

Drill three holes, equally spaced, in the 4” long board. Drill two holes, equally spaced, in the 2” square. Connect the ends of the string, either by melting the ends together or stitching the ends together. Thread the cord through the pieces. Pass cord through the center hole in one of the 4” pieces. Return to the top through one of the end holes, passing the end through the loop formed by the other end of the cord. Weave the cord through the 2” square. Pass the end down the first hole of the second 4” piece. Return it to the top by passing it through the hole at the other end. Pass the end through the center hole. After you have pushed all the loop through the hole, pass the other pieces through the loop. Now, pull loop tight by pulling the extra cord back through the center hole.

Victoria Puzzle Solution:

Take the loop at the center of one of the 4” pieces, and pull it out of the hole. After you have pulled 5 or 6 inches of the loop through the hole, push it away from you through the hole closest to the 2” square. After you have pushed all of the loop through the hole, pass it over the other two pieces of the puzzle. Pull the loop back through the hole, and it will be possible to remove the cord.

Triplets Puzzle Objective:

Remove the cord from the wooden pieces. Materials

3 -- 3” x 3” square or 3” circle of ¼” plywood ½” drill bit 1 ½ meters of 1/8” braided string

How to Make:

Drill three holes in the plywood in a triangular pattern. Sand and finish the plywood either by painting or clear coating. Loop the cord through the pieces as in the picture. Bind the ends together by stitching the ends together.

Triplets Puzzle Solution:

Take the loop from one of the three disks and pass it through hole with the string connecting the disk to the rest of the puzzle. Slide the other two disks through the loop. Take care not to twist the cord at any time. Pull the loop back through the ring to its original position, and the first disk will be free. Repeat these movements with the other two disks.

Yoke Puzzle Objective:

Remove the cord from the puzzle. Materials:

1 – 3” disk ¼” plywood 60 cm piece of 1/8” string 2 – 2 cm beads ½” drill bit

How to Make: Drill the three holes in the disk. Sand and finish the plywood. Weave the string in the puzzle. Thread each end of the string into a bead and tie a knot in the end.

Yoke Puzzle Solution:

Pull loop toward you. Then, weave loop through the middle hole and back up through the bottom hole. Pass the beads through the loop. Pull the loop back up through the two holes and the string should be free.

Woodworm Puzzle Objective:

Remove the ring from the puzzle. Materials:

1 – 5” long 2” x 4” 80 cm of 1/8” string 1 – ¾” bead ½” drill bit 1 ½” hole cutter

How to Make: One the 4” x 5” top, measure 3/4” from each corner and mark. Drill a ½” hole at each corner mark. Find the center of one 2” x 5” side. Drill a ½” hole through the board at this mark. Find the center of the top and cut a 1 ½” hole. Sand and finish the board. Sew a loop at one end of the string that will not allow the bead to pass through. Now thread the string. Pass the string up through the upper right-hand corner hole. Then thread the string down through the upper left-hand corner hole. Slide the ring under the strings on the top. Pass the string through the upper side hole, up through the 1 ½” hole through the ring, over the string on the top, down through the ring and through the lower side hole. Now, pass the string up through the lower left-hand corner hole, over the ring, under the loop formed by the string passing through the side holes, over the ring and down through the lower right-hand corner hole. Pass the string through the loop at the other end of the string. Finally, put the bead on the string and tie a knot to secure the bead.

Woodworm Puzzle Solution:

Pull loop toward you until you have enough string to pass the loop through the lower right-hand corner hole. Pass the loop through the hole, through the loop in the string and over the bead. Pull the loop back to the top of the puzzle. Now, pass the loop through the upper right-hand corner hole. Pull the loop over both the string with loop and the bead. Be careful as you complete the next move or you will end up with a knot, especially when you try to reverse the process for replacing the ring. Pay particular attention as to the whether you pass the loop above or below the bead. Pass the loop up through the loop in the string and over the bead. Pull the loop back through the hole and the ring should be free. Reverse the process to replace the ring.

One Loop Puzzle Objective:

Remove the string from the puzzle. Materials:

1 – 2” x 4” 50 cm of 1/8” string 1 – ¾” bead ½” drill bit

How to Make: Drill the holes according to the picture. Sand and finish either by painting or clear coating. Thread the puzzle as shown. With the string folded in half pass the loop through one of the two holes side by side. Pass the ends of the string through the opposite hole and up through the loop. Pass the ends of the string down through the middle hole and back up through the bottom hole. Insert the ends through the bead and tie the ends to secure the bead.

One Loop Puzzle Solution:

Pull loop toward you. Then, weave loop through the middle hole and back up through the bottom hole. Pass the beads through the loop. Pull the loop back up through the two holes and the string should be free.

Two Loop Puzzle Objective:

Separate the pieces of the puzzle. Materials:

1 – 2” x 2” ¼” plywood 2 – 30 cm pieces of 1/8” string 4 – ¾” bead ½” drill bit

How to Make: Drill two holes, evenly spaced, in each square of plywood. Sand and finish the plywood either by painting or clear coating. Pass the ends one piece of string through the holes in one square and thread the beads onto the ends. Now, tie a knot in each end to secure the beads. Next, tie a knot in one end of the remaining string, thread one bead on the string, and pass the end through one hole of the second square. Pass the string through the loop formed by the string on the first square and down through the remaining hole on the second square. Now, thread the remaining bead on the string and tie a knot to secure it in place.

One Loop Puzzle Solution:

Pass one loop through a hole in the other square. Pass the bead through the loop and pull the loop back through the hole. The pieces should be separated.

Slit Puzzle Objective:

Remove the string. Materials:

1 – 2” x 4” piece of leather 30 cm of 1/8” string 2 – ¾” beads

How to Make: Cut the slits in the leather as shown. The two parallel cuts should be long enough to push the center strip through the short cut and pass the bead through the loop formed by the center strip when pushed through the short slit. Thread the string on the puzzle as shown. Slide a bead on each end of string and tie a knot in the string to secure the beads.

Slit Puzzle Solution:

Pull the leather center strip forward forming a loop. Push the newly formed loop through the short slit. Pass one bead through the loop to release the string.